Radfan Ceramic Tile Manufacturing

completed

Environmental Review Summary (ERS)Project Name YEMEN: Radfan TilesRegion Central Asia, Middle East, and North AfricaSector Cement and Construction MaterialsProject No. 8311 May 13, 19971. This project involves an expansion of an existing glazing ceramic tile plant, Radfan Manufacturing Ceramic and Porcelain Company Limited (Radfan), which is currently importing unfinished tiles from Italy and Spain and is glazing these tiles. The existing facility is located in Matnah Bani Matar, about 25 km outside Sana’a, Republic of Yemen. The company is planning to use local raw materials to prepare its own unfinished tiles and glaze them at the existing facilities. Radfan is planning to purchase its own raw materials sources, and to develop and operate these deposits. The company will extend the existing plant building to accommodate the additional new equipment to mix, form and press the ceramic tile bisquits. The pressed tiles will be dried, fired and glazed. Ground water wells will supply water needed for the process. Kiln firing will use natural gas.2. This is a Category B project, according to IFC’s environmental review procedure because a limited number of specific environmental impacts may result which can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines or design criteria. The reviewing of this project consisted of appraising technical and environmental information submitted by the project sponsor and a site visit to the existing operations by IFC’s technical and environmental department staff. The following potential environmental safety and health impacts of the project were analyzed:air emissions and dust control;solid and liquid waste management;storage and handling of glazing and pigment materials; andgeneral employee health and safety.The sponsor has presented plans to address these issues and demonstrate that the proposed project will comply with applicable World Bank requirements. The information about how these potential impacts are addressed by Radfan is summarized in the paragraphs that follow.3. The primary source of air emissions associated with the project will be dusts generated during title manufacturing operations and quarrying operations. Dust collections will be erected at the new production facilities to control particulate emissions generated during the process. Dust collectors will be installed to clean the exhaust gases of the kiln. As these kilns will be fired by natural gases, and the tiles will be fired that are previously pressed, so it is expected that there will be no significant emissions of pollutants. The raw materials will be ground in ball mill in the presence of water, and therefore it is expected that there will be dust emitted during this process.4. Wastes generated during the manufacturing process are either recycled back to the process or reused as construction aggregate. Dust collected by the dust collectors will be recycled. Some of the scrap tiles will be reused and the rest will be used as a base for construction materials. The company, based on IFC’s recommendation, will install a filter press to separate the waste solid from the water. Both will be recycled.5. Materials used for glazing feldspar, frits, pigments, etc, are clearly labeled and stored inside the plant. The required glazed materials are ground in a tightly closed mill, in the presence of water, where no wastes are generated.6. Production areas are ventilated and appropriate safety equipment is provided by the employer. Necessary personnel protective equipment will be provided to and procedures followed with those employees working in particularly dusty, noisy and high temperature areas. Workers affected at the press machines will be provided with ear plugs. All employees will be trained in the safe operation of equipment and proper responses for foreseeable emergency operations.7. Based on its review of available information regarding potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures, IFC concludes that Radfan’s proposed project will meet World Bank environmental, health and safety policies and guidelines and the Government of Yemen requirements.8. IFC will monitor ongoing compliance with World Bank environmental, health and safety policies and guidelines during the lifetime of the project by evaluating reports submitted annually to IFC by Radfan and by conducting periodic site reviews during project supervision.